The NFL's international series is expanding once again, and this time, the league is bringing American football to the Emerald Isle. In a historic move, the league will host its first-ever regular-season game in Ireland, with the Minnesota Vikings taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 5 at Croke Park in Dublin.
This is the second of seven international games in the 2025 season and a major step in the league's push for global expansion. The matchup follows the first international game in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where the Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1.
Week 4's matchup at Croke Park marks a new chapter in the NFL's global series. Here's everything you need to know about the league’s debut in Dublin.
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Where is Vikings vs. Steelers being played?
Minnesota and Pittsburgh will be facing off at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. The game will kick off at 9:30 a.m. ET, which is 2:30 p.m. local time.
.@CamHeyward working on his craft as a Dublin City Tour Guide ⬆️#NFLDublinGame@aerlingus | @steelers pic.twitter.com/mdksSim3TO
— Steelers Ireland (@SteelersIreland) May 13, 2025
Pittsburgh played in "The American Bowl" at Croke Park in a preseason game against the Chicago Bears in 1997, which it won. That is still the only NFL game ever played in Ireland.
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The teams also played overseas in 2013, where Minnesota won 34-27 at Wembley Stadium in London.
We'd take another one of these at @CrokePark in 2 weeks!
— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) September 14, 2025
Remembering when the @steelers & @Vikings put up 61 points in a classic at Wembley Stadium in 2013 ⏮️ pic.twitter.com/JfwmKtyNLd
Croke Park details
The stadium, which is located on the northern side of Dublin, is the biggest stadium in Ireland and one of the biggest in Europe.
- Location: Dublin, Ireland
- Capacity: 82,300
- Owner: Gaelic Athletic Association
- Year opened: 1884
- Construction cost: €266,000,000
- Last stadium renovation: 2004
Who plays at Croke Park?
Croke Park is home to the Gaelic Athletic Association, playing host to sports like gaelic football and hurling, including the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. It is not home of a singular professional team, but Croke Park hosts the most prestigious games for gaelic football and hurling, giving it major significance in Ireland.
The stadium also serves as a venue for large-scale concerts, hosting artists including Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, the Rolling Stones and Ed Sheeran. Another famous moment at this site was Muhammad Ali's fight against Al "Blue" Lewis in 1972, where Ali defeated Lewis via technical knockout in the 11th round.
While it is the largest stadium in Ireland, its use for pro football is a new development. It will host its first-ever NFL game in Week 4 of the 2025 season, which is a major historical milestone for both the league and the stadium.
The last time it hosted an American football game was Penn State vs Central Florida (UCF) on August 30, 2014.
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Is the NFL Dublin stadium turf or grass?
The Croke Park surface is primarily grass, but there is also a hybrid turf farm on-site with drainage, irrigation, and undersoil heating.
Assuming there aren't major changes, Vikings vs Steelers will be played on a hybrid grass surface, which is natural grass reinforced with synthetic fibers.
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Why is the NFL playing in Dublin?
The NFL has a stated goal of becoming a "truly global sport." To achieve this, the league is actively bringing the game to untapped international markets. The 2025 season is the largest international slate in NFL history, with seven regular-season games played in five different countries. The game in Dublin, along with debut games in Berlin and Madrid, is a major step in that expansion, allowing the league to build a sustainable and passionate fan base in new territories.
The tickets for the Vikings and Steelers game in Ireland are going on sale..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 17, 2025
There's over 600,000 people waiting in the queue#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/SINEWIsLlf
London has hosted regular-season games since 2007, Germany since 2022 and Brazil since 2024. According to an ESPN press release from 2024, NFL owners voted to authorize the league to host eight international games each season. Comissioner Roger Goodell said earlier in 2024 that he hopes to get to 16 international games per season in the future.
In 2025, the NFL will host international games in Sao Paolo, Dublin, London, Madrid and Berlin.
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Where is the Rooney family from?
The Rooney family — the primary owners and operators of the Steelers since 1933 — immigrated from Ireland to the United States.
"The opportunity for the Pittsburgh Steelers to play in Ireland is truly special, not only because of the Rooney family history there but because it allows us to connect with Irish fans while also giving fans who travel from Pittsburgh and beyond a unique football experience," Steelers President Art Rooney II said in May. "We are thrilled to be part of this historic event and to represent Pittsburgh on a global stage."
Dan Rooney, who served as the Steelers' chairman from 1988 to 2016, was the United States Ambassador to Ireland from 2009 to 2012.
"I smile when I think about the late great Ambassador (Dan) Rooney and how fired up he would be about this game," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "I remember when he was Ambassador to Ireland, he would have a Fourth of July flag football game every year. I think about him, but I also simply think about the honor and privilege to play our game globally."